Bella Figura: Lake Como’s Casta Diva
“The sky was flecked with white lights that twinkled from Como’s western shore, and the bolt of electricity that the clouds would imminently bring provided a certain drama to our recent arrival.”
Browsing: The Explorer
The Lugger, Cornwall
Portloe, so I read in the Lugger’s brochure, was described by Sir John Betjeman as ”one of the least spoiled and most impressive of Cornish fishing villages.”
Sleep and Spice and All Things Nice…
“Telling an Olympic boxing champ to ‘work me hard’ in a one-to-one personal training session probably wasn’t the wisest of lines…” Gabrielle visits La Source in Grenada.
Parma: An Esculent Escapade
“Parma is a city built on its food. It’s as important an association as Pizza Margherita to Naples and ragù alla bolognese to Bologna…” David Constable flies the flag for the city noted for its, err, ham…?
The Four Seasons Sydney
“Boats pottering about the harbour, skirting its curves from Camp Cove to Rose Bay, meeting at Circular Quay where the iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House dominate and command attention.”
Brecon Beacons: Salt of the Earth
An approachable gourmand sensibility is undoubtedly what’s prompting travelling foodies to make the culinary pilgrimage to the beatific Brecon Beacons and its surrounding counties…
Combe House Hotel
‘“There are very few villages that are a time warp like Gittisham,” says Ruth Hunt, co-owner of Combe House in South Devon. She’s right. Only a few minutes inside and I know we’ll want to do this time warp again…’
Villa Dubrovnik, Croatia
‘Romance forever’. That’s a steep level of commitment for a hotel; even one with a 12pm check out and the offer of vaporetto speedboat transfers to the centre of town…
Southbridge and The Restaurant at Meadowood
“I never learnt to drive. I remember living in some extravagant world of fantasy at seventeen and informing family, that by the time I needed a car, I’d be in a position to employ a driver…” Noah’s life lessons bite back as he ventures into the Napa Valley…
Good Bad Grand Ragaz
“If the unwritten sign was wrought reality, it would state: ‘Overweight passengers may cause delays’…” Douglas Blyde takes off to a restorative clinic in Switzerland for a health check…
The Landmark London: All’s Fair in Love and Work
“It began as a surprise to Mrs L, though I forget the occasion. Valentine’s, I think. Or possibly our anniversary.” Ever the romantic, Larry sweeps Mrs L away for a night of mid-week mystery…
Le Castille, Paris
‘Please don’t say I work hard. Nobody is forced to do this job and if they don’t like it, they should do another one.’ These words are not the bossy but ultimately modest utterance of your correspondent, but those of Karl Lagerfeld…